Osteoblast Differentiation in Skeletal Disease States
A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Cell Biology and Pathology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 13
Special Issue Editors
Interests: osteoblast differentiation; vascular calcification; oxidative stress; antioxidant; ER stress
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Osteoblast differentiation is a fundamental process required for normal bone formation and skeletal maintenance. Its impairment is a common feature across a wide range of skeletal diseases. The osteoblast lineage is regulated by well-defined transcriptional networks, including Runx2, Osterix, and signaling pathways such as Wnt/β-catenin and BMP/TGF-β. Recent advances have emphasized the influence of metabolic state, mitochondrial function, and ER stress responses on osteogenic commitment and maturation.
In inflammatory and endocrine-related bone disorders, osteoblast function is frequently suppressed by cytokine signaling, oxidative stress, and altered systemic metabolic cues. Conditions such as postmenopausal osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes-associated osteopenia illustrate how chronic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation disrupt the progression from mesenchymal precursors to fully differentiated osteoblasts. These mechanisms contribute to reduced matrix synthesis, impaired mineralization, and compromised bone integrity.
Emerging studies have also highlighted the dynamic communication between osteoblasts and the surrounding microenvironment, including immune cells, vascular networks, and marrow stromal populations. Single-cell transcriptomics and advanced imaging have expanded our understanding of how these interactions shape osteoblast fate decisions in both physiological and pathological contexts.
Together, these insights underscore the central role of osteoblast differentiation in skeletal diseases and point toward several therapeutic opportunities. Strategies that target anabolic pathways, modulate inflammatory mediators, restore mitochondrial or ER homeostasis, or fine-tune signaling crosstalk provide promising avenues for improving bone formation. As research continues to integrate molecular, metabolic, and microenvironmental perspectives, a more complete understanding of osteoblast biology is expected to guide the development of next-generation treatments for skeletal pathologies.
Dr. Kyeong-Min Kim
Prof. Dr. Won-gu Jang
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomedicines is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- osteoblast differentiation
- bone remodeling
- skeletal diseases
- inflammation and bone metabolism
- cellular stress pathways
- mesenchymal stem cells
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
